Should investors be scared off by the Reserve Bank’s increasingly hands-on approach to the property market? Not necessarily, as there are upsides – it creates a safety valve against potential overheating, and gives rise to some innovative investment vehicles. As investors, we Kiwis are used to a relatively unregulated property market. We’re renowned for favouring…
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The last month – Highlights on key market indicators Interest Rates: The RBNZ cut the OCR by 25bps last month – down to 2.25%. It cited slowing global growth and declining inflation expectations. We may see an even lower OCR. What does this mean? Interest rates are unlikely to tank any time soon. Net Migration:…
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During the month of October, several regions around the country reached new record median prices, while at the same time, Auckland stopped to take a breather. While the volume of property sales was up 4% from October last year, they fell 19% compared to September. While Auckland may look to have stopped in its tracks,…
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Auckland home prices are up more than 20 per cent in the past year. If you’re a buyer from China or the US, they’re not. The slump in New Zealand’s currency has made properties in the country’s largest city a bargain for foreigners, creating a headache for central bank Governor Graeme Wheeler, who has been…
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The Reserve Bank (RBNZ) recently proposed a 70% LVR restriction for investors in the Auckland property market. While it was tempting to jump straight out of the gates with a comment, we thought it would be more useful to wait for the RBNZ’s discussion document and provide a deeper analysis of their announcement. In this…
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Update – New Rule: Interest Rate rise for 5 or more rentals Some of you will be aware that the RBNZ has been looking at introducing new capital requirements which would essentially make a new asset class and would mean banks would have to have more capital for lending to what it considers “professional property…
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Despite what we might have called “pre-election jitters” dampening the market a tad, the housing market rebounded in October, and is lining up for a strong finish to the year. Increased mortgage lending that is recovering from 2 year lows, cuts to fixed mortgage rates, and net migration at record highs all provide strong support.…
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You are not a New Zealand resident and you are considering investing in New Zealand property. Does your investment need to be approved by the New Zealand Government’s Overseas Investment Office? Here are some facts you should know in order to avoid potential legal issues associated with your investment in New Zealand. Overview Your property…
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Only two months since the reserve bank brought in new LVR lending legislation, they have amended their stance. New home builds will now be exempt from the lending restriction, which according to the Registered Master Builders Federation, will ensure the development of up to 5000 homes in the next year. This figure is only an…
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Will it be champagne on tap – or soggy oats?
Alan Henderson of Erskine + Owen answers the tough questions about retirement As I write this, it’s Saturday morning. I’m watching my son swim; I’ve just dropped my other son at cross fit. I’m negotiating to not have to drop my daughter at gym, but I know in an hour or so I’ll be picking…
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